The story as it is told
In 1931 Warner Bros. had a hit called Little Caesar, and it made Edward G. Robinson a star as the gangster Rico.
It is a 1931 film, so it follows that it enters the public domain on January 1, 2027, with all the other 1931 movies. That is what the lists say, on Public Domain Day.
What we can confirm
Little Caesar was made by First National Pictures, part of Warner Bros., from W. R. Burnett's 1929 novel. The AFI Catalog gives a New York premiere of January 9, 1931, and a release date of January 25, 1931. Its opening weekend at Warner Bros.' Strand Theater broke the house record, grossing $50,000 in eleven performances, according to Motion Picture Herald as summarized by AFI. Robinson and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. appeared in person at the premiere.
The copyright record tells a different date. The Copyright Office's Catalog of Copyright Entries for 1931 (motion pictures, vol. 4, p. 630, entry 644) lists: "Little Caesar; novel by W. R. Burnett, screen version and dialogue by Francis Edwards Faragoh, continuity by Robert N. Lee, directed by Mervyn LeRoy. 8 reels. © Dec. 29, 1930; 2 c. and description Jan. 22, 1931; L 1912; First national pictures, inc., New York." AFI's catalog gives the same: "Copyright Date: 29 December 1930," number LP1912.
Under the 1909 Copyright Act, a film's term ran from that copyright date. A first term of 28 years could be renewed in its 28th year. The renewal is in the 1958 catalog (Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, January to June 1958, p. 52): "LITTLE CAESAR, a photoplay in eight reels by First National Pictures, Inc. © 29Dec30; L1912. Associated Artists Productions Corp. (PWH); 4Feb58; R208355." Renewed works now get 95 years. Ninety-five years from 1930 runs through December 31, 2025.
The rule for mixed dates comes from Duke University's Center for the Study of the Public Domain. Its Public Domain Day 2026 page featured Cimarron "even though it was released in 1931 because it was copyrighted in 1930 and the earlier date controls (date discrepancies are resolved 'in favor of the public')." The same 1931 catalog lists Cimarron as "© Dec. 31, 1930." Little Caesar's record has the same pattern, two days earlier. Duke's 2026 page did not mention Little Caesar.
The facts
- Copyright entry: © Dec. 29, 1930; deposit Jan. 22, 1931; L 1912; First National Pictures. CCE 1931, Pt. 1 Group 3, vol. 4, p. 630, archive.org
- Renewal: 4Feb58, R208355, Associated Artists Productions Corp. CCE 1958, Motion Pictures, Jan to June, p. 52, archive.org
- Premiere Jan 9, 1931; release Jan 25, 1931; copyright date 29 Dec 1930, LP1912; Strand record. AFI Catalog, catalog.afi.com
- Earlier-date rule and Cimarron example. Duke CSPD, Public Domain Day 2026, web.law.duke.edu
- 28th-year renewal rule. US Copyright Office, Circular 22 (quoted in our ), copyright.gov
Sources
- CCE 1931, Dramatic Compositions and Motion Pictures, vol. 4 (Internet Archive), p. 630: archive.org
- CCE 1958, Motion Pictures and Filmstrips, Jan to June, p. 52: archive.org
- AFI Catalog, Little Caesar (print view): catalog.afi.com
- Duke CSPD, Public Domain Day 2026: web.law.duke.edu
- US Copyright Office, Circular 22: copyright.gov
- Local copies used for search: and (same items as 1 and 2)
- 17 U.S.C. § 105 (government works), Cornell LII: law.cornell.edu